Location of apple tree

16 years ago

I have some questions regarding the placement of my apple tree in my backyard and hoping that someone can give me some advice who has more experience than I do with fruit trees. I am a newbie gardener and the tree I transplanted last year is a September Ruby semi-dwarf apple tree and the tag said it can get a big as 16-20'X12-16'. The spot where I had planted it the year before was too much in the shade and we found out our soil is heavy clay and poorly drained so we moved it in the early spring and planted it higher up in the native soil to help with drainage. It leafed out in spring and seemed to be unaffected by its move. My first question involves my new planting location. My uncle just built us a shed (6-8 months after the apple tree was transplanted) and it is only 7-8' away from where the apple tree is now planted on one side only. Searching the Internet I have found websites that say the tree could get up to 20' wide. I now think after reading how large the tree can get that I will have to move the tree again as it will be eventually touching my shed but I am hoping that I can just keep the tree pruned to keep it manageable. Will I be able to keep the tree pruned to 12' wide maxiumum or should I move the tree again this spring? Will it kill the tree to be transplanted two years in a row?

I don't know why I didn't notice it before since we have lived in our house for the past 4 years but the majority of the backyard does not receive any direct sunlight in the winter. The sun is low in the sky now and the tree is planted on the north side of the house about 19 feet away but unfortunetly where it is planted it does not receive any sun in the winter except reflected light from the buildings around it. In the spring, summer and fall it is in direct/full sun. Since we live in zone 3 and the tree does not have leaves in the winter will it have a impact on the tree to not have sun in the winter?

Thank you,

Carrie

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Comments (6)

alan haigh
16 years ago
No problem.
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
16 years ago
In case you would like more wordy answers, unless you uncle build a two story shed it should not impact the tree. My orchard is also on the north side of the mountain and except for being extra cold on the hands of the pruner the trees don't mind at all. Al
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carebear3117
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you for both of your replies. I am happy that I don't have to move the tree again as there is not really any other place in my yard it would be suited to. I now need to learn the fundamentals of pruning to keep the tree manageable at maximum 12 feet high.
I have attached a picture so you can see where the tree is in relation to the shed. Last time I measured it was almost 8 feet to the tree from the corner of the shed.

Thanks!
Carrie

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:58524}}
jellyman
16 years ago
Carrie:

Having looked at your photo, I fully agree with the aforesaid analysts that your tree's position in relation to the shed is no problem at all. Shading during the winter may actually be an advantage, since it is the direct rays of the low winter sun combined with sub-zero temperatures of northern latitudes that causes sunscald on the trunks of fruit trees. You won't have that problem, although your tree may bloom slightly later. Not much though, and that might turn out to be an advantage too.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA
peanuttree
16 years ago
oh dude, no, that's not gonna be a problem
carebear3117
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you Jellyman and Peanuttree for replying and letting me know that my tree should be fine in the location it's in now. I feel better knowing that I don't have to move the tree again. :)

Thank you,
Carrie

Location of apple tree

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alan haigh

calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9

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Location of apple tree

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alan haigh

calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9

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